Portable vacuum cleaner and method for storing a vacuum hose

ABSTRACT

A portable vacuum cleaner and a method for storing a vacuum hose of a portable vacuum cleaner are provided. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum-generating device. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a housing configured to hold the vacuum generating device therein. The housing has a groove extending around a periphery of the housing for receiving and holding a vacuum hose therein during storage of the housing. The vacuum hose has first and second ends. The first end is operably coupled to the vacuum generating device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/681,737, filed May 17, 2005, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a portable vacuum cleaner and a method forstoring a vacuum.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,961 describes a vacuum cleaner that includes a base,a housing, and a vacuum hose. A disadvantage with the vacuum cleaner isthat the vacuum cleaner does not allow a user the ability to store thevacuum hose within a portion of the housing. As a result, the user wouldhave difficulty storing the vacuum cleaner in a compact region of avehicle.

Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized that it would beadvantageous to have a portable vacuum cleaner configured to store thevacuum hose within a groove extending around a periphery of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable vacuum cleaner in accordance with an exemplary embodiment isprovided. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum generatingdevice. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a housingconfigured to hold the vacuum-generating device therein. The housing hasa groove extending around a periphery of the housing for receiving andholding a vacuum hose therein during storage of the housing. The vacuumhose has first and second ends. The first end is operably coupled to thevacuum-generating device.

A method for storing a vacuum hose of a portable vacuum cleaner inaccordance with another exemplary embodiment is provided. The methodincludes disposing the vacuum hose in a groove extending around aperiphery of a housing of the portable vacuum cleaner. The methodfurther includes retracting, at least partially, a power cord into thehousing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a portable vacuum cleaner in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1illustrating an enlarged view of a retractable power cord and a vacuumhose;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1illustrating a nozzle having a light emitting diode;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 disposedwithin a vehicle; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic of the portable vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 storedwithin a seat in the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable vacuum cleaner 10 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment is provided. The portable vacuum cleaner 10comprises a housing 12, a vacuum hose 14, a vacuum-generating device 17,a nozzle 22, a retraction device 33, a power cord 35, and a power socket34.

The housing 12 is provided to hold the vacuum-generating device 17therein. The housing 12 has a groove or multiple grooves extendingaround the periphery of the housing 12 for receiving and holding thevacuum hose 14 therein. In particular, the vacuum hose 14 is wrappedaround the groove extending around a periphery 40 of the housing severaltimes in an overlapping manner as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, thevacuum hose 14 is retained in close contact with the periphery of thehousing 12. Because the vacuum hose 14 is compressed against the grooveextending around the periphery of the housing 12, the vacuum hose 14 isprevented from being damaged when the portable vacuum cleaner 10 isturned in any direction or if it is dropped on a hard surface. Thehousing 12 preferably has an oval periphery as shown in FIG. 3. In anexemplary embodiment, the housing 12 has a length of 350 mm, a height of90 mm, and a width of 180 mm.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in theFigures, the housing further comprises a plurality of tab members 17,each of which is configured to have a raised portion 19 for retainingthe hose around the periphery of the housing when the hose is receivedin the groove or grooves formed around the housing.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the tab members are locatedin a flange portion or portions 21 of the housing. Flange portions 21define an upper limit and a lower limit of the grooves or grooves thattraverse the periphery of the housing. In addition, a central rib orraised area 23 between the two flanges will provide a means for definingtwo grooves that traverse the periphery of the housing. Of course, moreor less than two grooves are contemplated for use in exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the hose and/or the nozzle are configured to have a diameterlarge enough so that it will cooperate with the groove as well as thetab members in order to secure the same to the housing. In accordancewith an exemplary embodiment, the tab members are formed from aresilient material such as plastic or equivalents thereof wherein thetabs are capable of deflecting away from the hose as it is inserted intothe groove and thereafter returning to its original position thus,causing the hose to be retained within the groove of the housing as wellas providing ease of removal. In other words the tab members areconfigured for flexible movement with regard to the flange member andwill have natural bias thus causing the same to be returned to anun-deflected position after a biasing force has been removed.

In addition, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the housingof the vacuum cleaner is configured to receive the hose around itsperiphery to provide a compact exterior profile, which allows the vacuumcleaner to be easily stowed in an area beneath a vehicle seat (see FIG.8).

Referring to FIG. 2, the vacuum-generating device 17 is provided togenerate a vacuum in the vacuum hose 14. The vacuum-generating device 17is disposed within the housing 12. The device 17 includes a removablefilter 26, a fan 28, a motor 30, and a switch 32.

The removable filter 26 is provided for collecting dust particles. Theremovable filter 26 is disposed within the housing 12, which includes acover (not shown) that is removably secured to the housing 12. The dustparticles are filtered and maintained in the filter 26 until the filter26 is cleaned or replaced by a user.

The fan 28 is provided for generating a vacuum in the vacuum hose 14 fordrawing the dust particles into the housing 12. The fan 28 comprises afirst side and a second side. Fan 28 has an exhaust port within thesecond side and an intake port within the first side. During operation,when an electrical current is routed from a power socket 34 to the motor30 via a switch 32, the fan 28 is rotated, thereby producing a vacuumwithin the vacuum hose 14 for directing the dust particles into thefilter 26.

The motor 30 is provided to rotate the fan 28. The motor 30 ispreferably a lightweight DC motor.

The switch 32 is provided for controlling energization of the motor 30.The switch 32 is electrically coupled to the power cord 35. When theswitch 32 has a closed operational position, the motor 30 is energizedand rotates the fan 28. Alternately, when the switch 32 has an openoperational position, the motor 32 is de-energized.

The vacuum hose 14 is provided for collecting the dust particles androuting the dust particles to the filter 26. The vacuum hose 14 isoperably coupled to the housing 12 and is coupled to a first end of thehousing 12. The vacuum hose 14 comprises a plastic tube. In an exemplaryembodiment, the vacuum hose 14 has a length of at least 3 feet and adiameter of at least 1¼ inch. Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of theportable vacuum cleaner 10 is depicted where the vacuum hose 14 iswrapped around the groove extending around a periphery of the housing 40for receiving and holding the vacuum hose 14 therein during storage.

The power cord 35 is provided for energizing the portable vacuum cleaner10. The power cord 35 is operably coupled to the housing 12 and iselectrically coupled between the switch 32 and the power socket 34. Tobe operable, it is required that the power cord 35 conduct electricalsignals. Thus, the power cord 35 is typically composed of severalconductors covered by required insulation layers. The power cord 35 hasa relatively large length in order to allow the portable vacuum cleaner10 to operate in any location within the vehicle 50. In an exemplaryembodiment, the nozzle 22 has a length of 210 mm.

The retraction device 33 is provided to retract the power cord 35 atleast partially within the housing 12 when the housing 12 is beingstored. The device 33 is further configured to allow the power cord 35to be dispensed out of the housing 12 by a user.

The power socket 34 is provided to route electrical current from acurrent source (not shown) to the retractable power cord 35.

The electrical lead 36 is provided for energizing the light emittingdiode 24. The electrical lead 36 preferably is routed from the housing12 through the vacuum hose 14 to the nozzle 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the nozzle 22 is provided for collectingthe dust particles. The nozzle 22 is configured to be coupled to an endof the vacuum hose 14 and includes a light emitting diode 24 and anelectrical lead 36. The nozzle 22 is preferably made of a lightweightplastic material with a high resistance to heat and high endurance inorder to optimize its ability to remove the dust particles fromcarpeting or hard surfaces. The light emitting diode 24 is provided foremitting a light when the motor 30 is energized. The light emitted bythe light emitting diode 24 provides a user with better visual abilityfor locating the dust particles. The light emitting diode 24 iselectrically coupled through the electrical lead 36 that extends throughthe vacuum hose 14 to the switch 32. As shown, the vacuum hose 14 isoperably coupled to the housing 12 at the first end and operably coupledto the nozzle 22 at a second end.

Referring to FIG. 7, a use of the portable vacuum cleaner within avehicle 50 will now be explained. The vehicle 50 includes seats 52 asshown. The user of the vehicle 50 has placed the portable vacuum cleaner10 on top of the seat 52. The power cord 35 of the portable vacuumcleaner 10 is connected via the power socket 34 to an electrical sourceto energize the portable vacuum cleaner 10. Once the portable vacuumcleaner 10 is energized, the user is capable of utilizing the portablevacuum cleaner 10 to collect the dust particles within the vehicle 50.The portable vacuum cleaner 10 may be positioned in any location of thevehicle 50 for operation purposes.

Referring to FIG. 8, the portable vacuum cleaner 10 is easily stored ina compact manner under the seat 52 of the vehicle 50. In particular, therelatively small size of the portable vacuum cleaner 10 and the uniquemeans for stowing the vacuum hose 14 enables the user to easily storethe portable vacuum cleaner 10 within the vehicle 50.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the presentapplication.

1. A portable vacuum cleaner, comprising: a vacuum generating device;and a housing configured to hold the vacuum generating device therein,the housing having a groove extending around a periphery of the housingfor receiving and holding a vacuum hose therein during storage of thehousing, the vacuum hose having first and second ends, the first endbeing operably coupled to the vacuum generating device.
 2. The portablevacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a power cord retractiondevice disposed in the housing, the device configured to retract a powercord at least partially into the housing, the power cord beingelectrically connected to the vacuum generating device.
 3. The portablevacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein a nozzle is attached to the secondend of the vacuum hose.
 4. The portable vacuum cleaner of claim 3,wherein the nozzle includes a light emitting diode configured to emit alight.
 5. The portable vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein an electricallead is incorporated within the vacuum hose and is electrically coupledto the light emitting diode.
 6. The portable vacuum cleaner of claim 1,wherein the periphery of the housing is an oval periphery.
 7. Theportable vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured tobe stored within a storage compartment of a vehicle seat of the vehicle.8. The portable vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the housing furthercomprises a plurality of retention tabs disposed in an upper flange anda lower flange of the housing, wherein the plurality of retention tabsare configured to engage a portion of the vacuum hose.
 9. A method forstoring a vacuum hose of a portable vacuum cleaner, the methodcomprising: disposing the vacuum hose in a groove extending around aperiphery of a housing of the portable vacuum cleaner; and retracting,at least partially, a power cord into the housing.